Green Beans Almondine is a vegetable dish my family requests regularly. I've simplified the cooking process into 10 easy steps and added make-ahead tips, making it easier than ever to prepare at dinner time.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Steals The Spotlight - Green beans almondine is a vegetable side dish that can easily steal the spotlight!
My Kids Love It and Suggest It - Whenever I ask my kids what we should serve for dinner guests, they always suggest green beans almondine. They love these beans, and so do our guests.
Everyday Meals and Holiday Dinners - This delicious side dish is perfect for everyday meals yet elegant enough for holiday dinners and special occasions. My make-ahead tips allow you to prepare these beans in advance and finish them right before serving, making them a convenient and impressive addition to any meal.
Green Beans Almondine
Almondine simply means with almonds. The word amandine also describes dishes cooked with almonds. Why the difference? Almondine is typically used in the US while amandine is European.
This recipe blanches the beans first and then they are sauteed with butter and garlic.
If you love green beans, you'll also want to check out this recipe - green beans with bacon!
These tasty green beans go with so many dishes, including a few of our favorites baked halibut, pan seared pork chops and apricot chicken.
Key Ingredients
- Fresh green beans - pick nice firm green beans
- Butter - I use salted butter
- Garlic - adds a lot of flavor to the beans
- Sliced almonds - adds great flavor and crunch
- Lemon juice - fresh squeezed (don't use the bottled stuff) The fresh lemon juice adds a bit of freshness that is a perfect finish to these beans.
How to Make Almondine Green Beans
1. Trim the green beans
- Grab a handful of beans
- Line up one end of green beans
- Cut off the stem part of the bean
- Turn around to the other side
- Cut off the tail end of the bean
2. Blanch the beans
- Blanch in a pot of boiling water for 4-5 minutes
- Remove from boiling water and add to a large bowl filled with ice water
3. Prepare beans
- Melt butter in a saute pan over medium heat. Add almonds and cook 3-4 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from pan and set aside.
- In same pan, add garlic and cook for a minute over medium heat
Add beans. Saute for 3-5 minutes until beans are heated through.
- Add almonds and stir
- Turn off heat and squeeze fresh lemon juice over beans.
Season with salt and pepper and serve.
Green Bean Almondine Recipe Tips
- Do not overcook beans when blanching. You want them to be al dente and still have a bit of bite to them.
- Be certain to drain all excess water from the beans
- Prepare beans just before serving. These beans are best served hot.
How To Make In Advance
I often get as much done ahead of time, especially when serving guests or for a holiday menu. Here are my make-ahead tips:
- Wash and trim beans
- Blanch beans in boiling water and then place into an ice bath
- Drain beans
- Place beans in a covered container and refrigerate until needed
- Toast almonds in a saute pan without any butter. Toast just until browned. Remove from pan right away to keep from browning. Store at room temperature until needed.
- Follow remaining steps in recipe, eliminating browning the almonds in butter
How To Serve
These green beans are best served hot. They are one of the last items I finish cooking right before serving. As soon as they are done, I add a squeeze of lemon juice, a bit of coarse salt and slide the beans onto a serving dish. Feel free to garnish with lemon wedges.
Storage Tips
Any leftover green beans almondine should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating Green Bean Almondine
Four ways to reheat green bean almondine:
Microwave: Place beans in a microwave-proof container and heat in the microwave for 30-90 seconds until heated through.
Air Fryer: Preheat air fryer to 375°F. Place green beans in air fryer and heat for 5-8 minutes until fully heated.
Stovetop: Melt a bit of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add green beans and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring often until heated through.
Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F. Place leftover beans on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place in oven for 10-12 minutes until beans are fully warmed.
FAQs
Yes, the leftovers can be reheated either in a skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes or for 1 minute in the microwave.
You can blanch the beans up to two days ahead of time. The almonds can be toasted several days ahead of time.
Serving suggestions
Green bean almondine goes great with these dishes:
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Be certain to check out all my vegetable recipes here!
Almondine Green Beans
Equipment
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Saute Pan
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans (washed and trimmed)
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup sliced almonds
- 2-3 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ lemon
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cook beans for 3-6 minutes in boiling water. Water should be at a rolling boil before you add beans. Taste bean to see if it's cooked enough for your liking.1 pound fresh green beans
- Drain beans in a colander and then cool in a bowl of cold ice water. Once cooled, drain beans again. Remove all excess water from beans.
- In a large saute pan, melt butter. Once melted add almonds.¼ cup butter, ¼ cup sliced almonds
- Cook over low heat until slightly browned. 3-4 minutes. Remove almonds.
- In same pan add garlic and beans.2-3 cloves garlic
- Continue cooking until beans are heated through.
- Add almonds and stir.
- Turn off heat, squeeze ½ lemon over top.½ lemon
- Add salt and pepper to taste.salt and pepper
- Serve immediately
Video
Notes
- Wash and trim beans
- Blanch beans in boiling water and then place into an ice bath
- Drain beans
- Place beans in a covered container and refrigerate until needed
- Toast almonds in a saute pan without any butter. Toast just until browned. Remove from pan right away to keep from browning. Store at room temperature until needed.
- Follow remaining steps in recipe, eliminating browning the almonds in butter
- Do not overcook beans when blanching. You want them to be al dente and still have a bit of bite to them.
- Be certain to drain all excess water from the beans
- Prepare beans just before serving. These beans are best served hot.
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in December of 2015. The pictures have been updated and a video has been added.
Green Bean Almondine Recipe Adapted From Fine Cooking.
Anneke De Clerk says
I make a similar version of this all the time. Never knew it was called Almondine. Learned something new today! Thanks for sharing!
Dan says
What does blanching do for the beans rather than sauteing right from the start? Just curious.
Kathy says
Hi Dan, Blanching the beans helps maintain the color and texture of the beans.
Fred G says
Great combo of ingredients.
Kiki says
Made this for our Christmas dinner of fresh deer loin and baked potatoes. SO delicious! Definitely a keeper! Thank you for sharing.
Kathy says
Thank you!
Karen Morris says
Awesome and easy side dish. Made it for Christmas dinner along with Beef Wellington.
Kathy says
Wonderful! So glad you loved it! 🙂
Adina says
I love green beans, but I have never added almonds, I am sure this dish tastes even better this way.
Kathy says
It is very delicious!
Fran @ G'day Souffle' says
I see that you are gearing up for the upcoming holiday period. Whether it's called 'almondine' or 'amandine'- it all sounds good to me!
Joan P. Woolf says
One spelling being "American" and one being "European", both correct.
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
A great, easy dish for the upcoming holidays Kathy! I'm pinning this one and making for sure!
Dawn says
Green beans are one of my fave side dishes. And, really, how can you go wrong when you serve 'em with butter, lemon and almonds? I could eat a whole lot of these for sure!! Suddenly my 'side' becomes a meal, lol.
David @ Spiced says
Reading through this post totally got me excited about Thanksgiving side dishes! I'm all about the side dishes, and this green bean almondine sounds like it would be the perfect addition to the menu this year. My mom used to make a similar dish back when I was a kid, but I haven't had it in years! Thanks for sharing, Kathy!
Natalie says
Can olive oil or margarine be used instead of butter?
Kathy says
Hi Natalie,
Yes! You could substitute olive oil or margarine! Happy cooking! 🙂
Phyllis says
I made this tonight to go with the Pork and Sauerkraut to ring in the new year, and it was delicious! I blanched the green beans ahead of time and just threw them in the pan with the almonds and butter when the time came. They were a big hit! Thanks for the recipe. Definitely a keeper!
Kathy says
Thanks, Phyllis! I'm glad you love it as much as I do!
Michelle Ferrand says
This looks so easy! And delicious! And like something l'd make for dinner!
YUM!
Kathy says
It really is easy and delicious! Give it a try 🙂
Christine says
Green beans have such great flavor. Love recipes like this that let all that flavor come through!
Kathy says
Thanks, Christine! They really are great!
Erin says
A fresh & healthy side dish! Beats plain old green beans any day.
Kathy says
Thanks, Erin! These green beans are a great side dish! They definitely beat plain old green beans!
Angie says
Simple and nice :)! Perfect dish for a vegetarian. Thanks Kathy!
Kathy says
Perfect for everyone!
Manali @ CookWithManali says
green beans & almonds are really good together, these look fantastic Kathy! Have a great 2016! 🙂
Kathy says
Thanks, Manali! Happy New Year to you too!
Laura @ Raise Your Garden says
I didn't know you worked at a restaurant Kathy...how nifty is that!?!? Anyhow, these green beans look fabulous. I will be giving them a whirl tonight, doing the easy thing and making a ham. Then we're going to that Snoopy movie finally. I will definitely be trying the lemon bit, that's new for me. As for the butter...haha...there's no subbing for me =) Have a fabulous New Year with your family!!!
Kathy says
My restaurant experience is from way back when....back in the college days. I learned lots from working there and still use some ideas I learned. Happy New Year!
karrie @ Tasty Ever After says
Perfect side dish for NYE. We are staying in this year and having friend s over for dinner. I was going to do a simple roasted asparagus because couldn't think of anything else, but now i have your recipe! YAY!! Plus, it's fancy looking and will impress everyone 🙂
Kathy says
I hope you give it a try! Happy New Years!
Kate @ Framed Cooks says
These look scrumptious, and just right for the Whole 30 I am about to start in January - I'll just sub some ghee for the butter. Thanks for the recipe!
Kathy says
Perfect! I love that you can make simple changes and still enjoy delicious food!